FBI Sends Citizens Terrorism Alerts by E-Mail
The FBI has sent out 600,000 E-mail alerts to a base of 14,000 subscribers, the bureau tells U.S. News.
The E-mail alert program was launched in October to provide the public, businesses, and law enforcement agencies with timely information on everything from terrorists to fugitives, scammers, and crooks, as well as updated information on terrorist threats. John Miller, FBI chief spokesman, said the system can also be used for crisis communication during a disaster or terrorist attack.
To sign up, one clicks on red envelope icons on the FBI's main website or its 56 field office websites and provides an E-mail address. No personal information is required.
"The new FBI E-mail alert system lets us do several things," Miller says. "It becomes a high-speed information portal for anyone from local law enforcement to the media to the public. As you sign up for it, you can tailor what you want to be notified on based on your interests. It also can be used as a crisis communication tool in the event of a disaster or even a terrorist attack. By letting people know when our website is updated, we can tell them about developments in missing children investigations or most wanted suspects as well."
Miller said the FBI expects the alert system will also help them catch criminals.
"It's a fast, effective way of keeping our partners and the public informed," he said.
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